REGION I-5A TRACK: MHS’ Goodley finishes third in 100 meters

Evan Jansa | MRT Correspondent

Published 5:39 pm, Saturday, April 26, 2014

Photo: Brad Tollefson

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Midland's DeAndre Goodley sprints down the track in the 100M dash during the UIL Regional Track and Field Championship on Saturday at R.P. Fuller Track and Field Complex in Lubbock. Goodley finished third with 10.51 race time. less

Midland's DeAndre Goodley sprints down the track in the 100M dash during the UIL Regional Track and Field Championship on Saturday at R.P. Fuller Track and Field Complex in Lubbock. Goodley finished third with ... more

Photo: Brad Tollefson

REGION I-5A TRACK: MHS’ Goodley finishes third in 100 meters

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LUBBOCK -- De’Andre Goodley knew something had to change.

Despite entering the Region1-5A track meet with the second best time in the 100 meters, the Midland High senior found himself seeded sixth in the finals at Fuller Track after running a 10.64 Friday in the preliminaries.

“I was just really focused on my start,” Goodley said. “I knew I could finish through.”

He did exactly that by bursting out of the blocks and finishing in third place with a time 10.51 seconds.

Once he put himself in the first tier of runners at the 60-meter mark, he was hundredths of a second away from the coveted silver medal and automatic entry into the state meet.

“I was just trying to catch the dude right next to me,” Goodley said. “I tried, it just didn’t work out.”

But the effort and the spot on the podium were enough to garner praise from Midland High coach Jeff Streun.

“(Goodley) finished really well,” Streun said. “It was nip and tuck at the finish line and he was good enough.”

Now, it’s a bit of a ‘hurry-up-and-wait’-scenario with the UIL’s wild card scenario, which awards the runner with the best time in the state that did not finish first or second in the regional with a spot in Austin.

Streun believes the 10.51 puts Goodley in a prime position to receive the wild card berth.

Even if the senior doesn’t nab that spot, he’s not looking back.

“I’m blessed to be here,” Goodley said. “There aren’t too many people that could be in this spot.”

It’s been quite the journey for Goodley who battled a hip flexor injury a year ago that hindered his state hopes, battling all the way back to the regional meet this season.

“It’s a great accomplishment,” Goodley said. “Just getting out and representing for my school and Midland.”

Goodley’s contributions to the Midland High track program are also profound in the eyes of his coach.

“I’ve had good sprinters for about eight years and he’s a culmination of probably the last good one I’ve had and will have for a while,” Streun said.

Some of the good ones Streun has had include familiar names like Baron Batch and Tyler Middleton, both of which ended up playing football for Texas Tech. Goodley is still undecided about his future but said he has been in touch with a handful of college football coaches.

And the legacy he will leave even if he doesn’t make it to Austin is not his top priority.

“I really don’t look into it too much,” Goodley said. “I just focus on the guys I’m out here racing more than anything else. I can look back on it like, ‘Yeah, I did my part at Midland High with the other sprinters.”

But for those curious where he stacks up, there’s a definitive answer.

“At the regional meet, De’Andre ran a better time than both (Batch and Middleton),” Streun said with a wry smile.

Johnson medals in long jump

Lee’s Ian Johnson saved his best for the Region 1-5A meet. And it’s given him an outside shot to qualify for state track meet.

Johnson finished with a bronze medal, jumping 22 feet, 4.75 inches. Last week, Johnson qualified for the regional meet with a 22-01 mark.

DeSoto’s Saige Revell won the event with a 23-04.25 jump and Mansfield took home the silver at 22-04.75.

Anderson eyes bright future

Bennijia Anderson’s introduction to the Region 1-5A meet might not have ended on the podium but there’s plenty of time left in her career.

The Midland High freshman finished 13th in the high jump, with a final height of 5-00.

“She came out and was very nervous,” Midland High coach Hil Ochoa said. “There’s a lot of competition at the regional meet and I think she kind of felt it.

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But the foundation is laid for many more trips to regionals and possibly beyond.

“To have her back three more years is phenomenal for me,” Ochoa said. “She is definitely athletic enough to take this sport to a higher level from here.”